Papee-folding machine



UNITED STATES CYRUS CHAMBERS, JR., OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

PAPER-FOLDING MACHINE.

Specification forming part of Letters PatentNo. 23,445, dated April 5, 1859; Reissued 'uly `21, 1874, No. 5,974.

To (LZ-Z whom "it may concern:

Be it known that I7, Crans CHAMBERS, J r., of the city and county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Paper-Folding Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

My invention relates to improvements in paper folding machines, for which Letters Patent of the United States were granted to me on the 7th day of October, 1856, and on the 3rd day of November, 1857 and my improvenients consist, first, in register pins, so constructed and so attached to a paper folding machine, that they will retain their proper position for entering the holes in the sheet, for the adjustment of the latter, and yield by the movement of the 'same in 'the manner described hereafter. Second, in adjusting one of the register pins laterally and longitudinally, independently of the other pin. by means of the slides hereinafter described, or their equivalents. T hird', in 'adjusting both pins simultaneously, both laterally and` longitudinally by means of` frames, hereafter described. or their equivalents, one frame being adjustable in one direction on the other frame, and the latter, together with the former. being adjustable in another direction on the frame of the machine, or any attachment thereto. Fourth, in any convenient number lof rods, terminating at one of the folding rollers, the ends of the said rods passing into grooves in the said rollers, as and for the purpose hereinafter set forth. Fifth, in an adjustable stop, with its inner edge of a curved or angular form, or 'otherwise so constructed thatthe ends only of the folded edge of the sheet shall be in contact with the said stop, for the purpose hereafter specified. Sixth, in a combination of a plunger and two adjustable plates, the said plates being arranged `substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter forth. Seventh. in two curved wires or their equivalents, attached to the machine in the manner described hereafter, and for the purpose specified. Eighth, in a combi nation of an alarm or indicating apparatus I with a paper folding machine, when the said indicator is operated by a sheet folded by the said machine. Ninth, in causing a sliding boa-rd, against which the sheets are Apacked in the folding trough, to move along the latter with a diminution of friction as the sheets accumulate, by means of springs attached to the said board.` and arranged to bear against wedgeformed or inclined strips in the manner hereafter described.

In order to enableo'thers to -make and use my invention, I will now `proceed to describe its construction and operation.

@n reference to the accompanying draw in-g, which forms a partof this specification, Figure l, is a side elevation of a paper fold ing machine with my improvements. Fig. 2, a sectional elevation. an end view, looking in the direction ofthe arrow, Fig. l. Fig. l, a ground pla-n. V Figs. 5 and 6, en-

` larged sectional views of the registering deh Y .y vice. Fig. t, a plan of Figs. o and 6. Figs.

S and 9, detached views, illustrating part of the packing arrangement. Fig. l0, a perspective View 'of `the device for changing the position of the folded sheets, prior to their being deposited in the :packing trough.

l Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

A and A arethe opposite side frames of the machine and are connected together by the upper transverse hars B, C and D, and lower bars E and F (Fi-'g 2).

G is the 'main driving shaft` of the ma chine, and on this shaft issecu'red a pulley H, on the back of which is a cam a., both being situated outside the frame. To the same shaft G are also secured an "eccentric I, a cam J and another cani K'.

The several duties of the above mentioned parts and the manner in which they are accomplished will be fully set forth hereafter.

To the top of the opposite frames A and A are secured suitable boxes, in which turn the journals of the lirst pair of folding rollers L and L, the journal of the, roller L projecting beyond the frame, and the projecting end being furnished with a pulley, driven by a band or cord from the main pulley H of th driving sha-ft G. Tof the opposite frames are also attached two boxes for the shaft M, to which is secured an arm N, an'd,

on the end of the latter is a metal plate f, the edge of which, when depressed, coincides with the point of contact 'of the twoY rollers L and L with each other, as best. observed in Fig. 6. The arm N is operated by the cam a at the back of the pulley H, the said cam bearing against a roller on the end of the arm'b, the latter being secured to the shaft M.

P and P (Figs. 2 and 4:) are the second pair of rollers, caused to revolve in boxes, secured to the cross bars B and C of the frame, by any suitable system of gearing. A blade on an arm Q coincides, when depressed, With the point of contact of these two rollers, the arm being secured to a shaft g', which turns in bearings attached to the inside of the frame A, an arm'on this shaft being operated by the cam K on the driving shaft R and R are the third pair of folding rollers, placed at right angles to the second pair, and turning in boxes attached to the frame. A blade on the end of the arm S coincides, when depressed, with the point of contact of the two rollers, and this arm is secured to a shaft T, which turns in boxes on the transverse bar B of the frame, an arm U on the said shaft being operated b y the cam J on the driving shaft G.

V and V are the fourth and last pair of folding rollers, hung to the frame of the machine, and turned by any suitable system of gearing. Above these rollers is a blade on the end of the arm W, which is secured to the shaft g, the latter being, as before described, operated by the cam K on the driving shaft G.

The system of tapes or bands, used in connect-ion with the above described rollers, are similar and similarly arranged to those described in my patent, granted October 7th, 1856.'

Two pins e and c are situated one'on each side of the first pair of rollers Land L. Each pin is secured to a spindle, the pin c to the spindle m, and the pin e to the pin m', see Fig. 7. The spindle m turns in a bracket n secured to a bar p, which forms a part of the frame X. The spindle m turns in a bracket n, which is arranged to slide transversely with the machine in a block n2, the latter being arranged to slide longitudinally with the machine in a projection p on the bar 792, which also forms a part of the frame X. A projection 794 from this frame is arranged to slide longitudinally in a projection on the bar Y, the opposite ends of which rest on and are so secured to the opposite frames A and A of the machine, that the bar can be readily adjusted transversely, but can have no movement inY the direction of the length of the machine. It will now be seen, that the entire frame X, with its register pins e and e', may be adabout its middle.

justed both laterally and longitudinally, and their position, in respect to theY rollers, altered at pleasure. Thevpositions of the pins, too, in respect to each other, can be readily adjusted laterally and longitudinally, by the arrangement of slides, already described as being connected with the spindle m. Each of the spindles m and m has a spiral spring coiled around it, one end of the spring being attached to the bracket in which the spindle turns, and the other end to the spindle itself. The tendency of the spiral springs is to maintain the register pins in the vertical position shown in Fig. 5, beyond which they are prevented from moving outward by a pin project-ing from the spindle, and bearing against the bracket in which it turns, or by any other suitable device. The register pins, however, can be depressed, so as to move toward the rollers, as seen in Fig. 6, but instantly recover their vertical position, on the removal of the force by which they were depressed.

It will be observed, onA reference to Figs" and at the opposite end to a cross bar c;

The ends of the rods terminate vat or near a line drawn perpendicularly through the cenA ter of the roller L, the under sides of the rods being level or thereabout with the underside of the roller.

On the rods l. 2- and 3 is an adjustable bar Z (Fig. 4), which forms the stop for the sheet of paper, after it has received its first fold. The inner face of this bar, against which the folded edge of the sheet is brought in contact, is not straight, but of such a curved or angular form, that its surface at the ends is nearer to the rollers than the surface atV the middle.

O is the packing trough, the opposite ends of which are secured to the frame of the machine, and which is of the angular form, represented in the enlargedl sectional view Fig. 8. ln the trough. is a sliding board O (Figs. l and 2), to which are secured two springs 4, one spring overlapping one side, and the other overlapping` the opposite side of the trough, and each spring bearing against a strip 5, secured to each side. Each strip represents a wedge, increasing in thickness from the outer end of the trough to `the point where it terminates. The springs 4 bearing against these wedges formed on inclined strips, tend by their friction to retard the movement of thev sliding board O, and, as the friction must be greater where the thickest portion of the strips presents itself, than at the end of the trough where the strips are thinner, the board will move more readily in the trough near the end than Another board or plunger C is also arranged to slide in the trough, a projection trom the board passing through a slot in the trough, and the projection being connected by means of a rod to the lower end of the arm T, which is hung loosely to lugs on the underside ofthe transverse bar .D of the frame. To this arm is connected one end of the rod I', the opposite end of which embraces the eccentric I on the driving shaft G, the revolving motion of the latter consequently imparting a vibrating motion to the arm 'T and a` recipro 'ating motion to the plunger C. The latter has an adjustable plate 8, which can be raised and lowered at pleasure, and which will be indre particularly alluded to hereafter. To a permanent part of the frame is also attached a plate 9 (Figs. l, 2, and 8), the plate being so arranged as to be readily raised and lowered, for an object which will be apparent hereafter. A tongue l0 (Fig. 8), which is secured to or forms a` part of the spindle ll, projects through an opening in the trough, the spindle 1l turning in a bracket 1Q, secured to the underside of the trough. A spiral spring surrounds the spindle and tends to maintain the tongue l0 in a vertical position Awith its point projecting` a short distance into the trough, when not depressed by the edge of the folded sheet, as described hereafter. A pin 13,projecting from the spindle 1l, may be attached to any suitable registering or alarm apparatus, for indica-ting the number of sheets which have been perfectly folded.

Immediately under the last pair of folding rollers V and V, and to a permanent part of the frame, is secured a bent bracket 14, the form of which will be best observed on reference to I? ig. 10. From this bracket, and immediately over the trough, project two wires l5 and 1G, which arebent in a peculiar form, and the object of which will be fully set` forth hereafter.

It should be understood that the machine is covered at the top with a flat plate for receiving the sheet to be folded, the register pins projecting above this plate, in which is an opening for the play of the blade on the arm N. Before the machine is started, the register pins are adjusted to suit the holes made in the paper during the process of printing. This may be readily accomplished by adjusting the frame X on the bar Y, by adjusting the latter on the main frame, as well as by adjusting the latter on the projection y2 of the frame X. Ample means are thus afforded for altering the position of the register pins, in respect to the first pair of folding rollers, as well as in respect to each other. The stopping rod 2 must also be adjusted to a proper position, before the machine is put in operation. On turning the driving shaft G, a revolving motion toward each other will be imparted to each of the four pairs of folding rollers, and a reciprocating motion to the blades, by which the paper is forced between the rollers, as described in my former patent of October 7, 1856. At the same time, a reciprocating motion will be imparted to the plunger C, in the trough O. The sheet of paper to be folded being placed by the operator on the cover of the machine in such a positon,that the register pins e and e" shall tit into the holes made in the paper during the process of printing', the blade f on the arm N, which is furnished with needle points, descends suddenly onto the sheet, creases t-he latter, and forces the creased edge between the first pair of folding rollers L and L. As the blade is in the act of creasing the paper, the two ends of the latter must be drawn toward each other, and, consequently, the register pins e and e, were they to remain in their vert-ical position, would be the means of tearing the paper, so as to render it unfit. for use. The spiral springs, however, which surround the spindles m and m to which the pins are attached, are of such delicacy, that, while they tend to maintain the pins in a vertical position, the latter will instantly fall down, as seen in Fig. G, by the mere movement of the paper, and unaided by any mechanical appliances. As the pins fall to this position, they leave the holes in the paper, and, as the latter, by the action of the rollers, is being folded. the paper will pass over the pins, without receiving any injury from them. As soon as the paper has passed the pins they recover their vertical position, preparatory to being used as a means of presenting another sheet of paper in its proper position to the first pair of folding rollers. As the folded sheet passes between the latter, it is directed by a system of tapes or bands (so fully described in my former patent, as to need no explanation here) toward the second pair of folding rollers, the folded sheet being arrested by the stop e (Fig. 4), against which the folded edge bears, and by which it is presented in its proper .position to receive the second fold. During this part of the operation, that is from the time the sheet is leaving the firstpair of folding' rollers until it is about to receive the second fold, there are two points at which the sheet may be so operated upon as to become defective. One point is that where the folded edge of the sheet, after leaving the first pair of folding rollers, comes in contact with the tapes or bands, and, being bent by the latter', is apt, as the sheet passes on, to continue the bend and curl up, following the direction of the roller L. The other point where a defect might originate, supposing the first point to have Vside of theY rod islevel or thereabout with comes in contact with the stop e, when that edge, owing to the warping or buckling of the paper, is not quite straight. The means of preventing any defects at these two points, form an especial feature in my present improvements.

It has been already observed, that the rods l, 2, and 3, pass into grooves Z, cut into the roller L, that the rods terminate at or l about a line drawn perpendicularly through l the center of that roller, and that the under been passed in safety, is where the edge y the underside of the rollers. Now, on referring to Fig. 6, and noting the position of these rods, it will be seen, that it will be impossible for the folded edge of the sheet, as it passes from' the rollers, to turn up and follow the direction of the roller L,.as the rods presenta bar to prevent this, and serve to guide the sheet safely past this dangerous point.

Occasionally, through the warping or buckling of the paper, the first fold will present an edge 'slightly rounded. Should the stopping bar Z be straight, and a rounded edge of a sheet be brought in contact with it, there would be no certainty of that sheet being presented in its proper position to receive the second fold. In other words, as the rounded edge of the sheet is forced against the stop (still supposing the latter to be straight), the sheet has an opportunity to adjust itself at an angle to the stop, or at an angle to the second pair of folding rollers. Consequently, the second fold accomplished by these rollers, would not be at right angles to the first fold, and should this second fold be even but a trifle out of its proper angle, the third fold would be still further out of truth, and the same with the last fold. The folded sheet would be thus so imperfect, as to be unfit for use. Hence the importance of forming the inner face of the stop Z of a curved or angular form, so that the ends of the folded edge only can l come in contact with it, in which case any intermediate rounding of the edge between the two ends can in no way affect the assumption by the folded sheet of af-proper position against the stop, for receiving the second fold. Y

The second fold is accomplished by th blade on the end of the arm Q, creasing the sheet and forcing it between the rollers P and P the third fold by a blade on the arm V forcing the paper between the rollers R and R; and the fourth and last fold by a blade on thearm W forcing the paper between the rollers V and V. The fourth fold, however, is not always required, in which case the bands for directing the sheet. to these rollers are thrown off', and the folded sheet falls into the trough O, between the sliding board O and the reciprocating plunger C. In the machine, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the last pair of rollers are not supposed to be in use.

At the time the thrice folded sheet falls into the trough, the reciprocating plunger C (Fig. 2) has, through the action of the eccentric, been moved to the limit of its backward movement. As soon as the sheet has been fairly deposited in the trough, however, the plunger C moves forward and-pushes it against a body of previously folded sheets, which bear against the sliding board O.

The adjustable plate 9 and the tongue 10 have been previously alluded to. This plate and tongue, as will be seen in Fig. 2, coincide with each other. Now the plunger C is so arranged and regulated as to push the folded sheet a short distance past thetongue and plate. The upper corner of the vfolded sheet will consequently be pressed down, as seen in Fig. 9, the top of the adjust-able plate 8 of the plunger being the point where the bend at the corner of the sheet will take place. At the same time, the tongue 10 will lbe forced down by the advancing sheet.

After the corner of the sheet has passed the lower edge of the plate' 9, and after the edge of the sheet has passed the point of the depressed tongue 10, and t-he lower corner over an angular strip 17 in the corner ofthe trough, the upper corner of the sheet will recoil or spring back, recovering as it were from the bend. At the same time the plunger will recede, the tongue d1() will be elevated and, together with the strip 17, prevent the return of the lower endv of the sheet, while the vupper end is prevented from returning by the plate 9. Thus the folded sheet becomes one ofthe body previously folded and confined between the sliding board O, on one side, and the tongue 10, strip 17 and plate 9 on the other side, while the plunger recedes, preparatory to forcing another folded sheet forward and adding it to the body thus collected in the trough. As every folded sheet in succession is added, the sliding board O moves a short distance along the trough, and this movement is retarded by the springs 4 (Fig. l), one of which, as before remarked, bears against one of the strips 5, situated on each side of the trough. This retarded motion causes the plunger to pack and compress the folded sheets into a compact mass. In order that they may be compressed vto an equal density throughout, it is necessary that the friction of the board O against the side of the trough should be removed, as the mass of folded sheets accumulates, inasmuch as the weight yof the folded sheets and their constant in- In orderv crease ofbulk, add to the friction. to diminish the friction of the sliding board, the strips 5 on the outside of the box are made of the wedge shape or angular form vibrating arm 7 as to be nearer to the wires 65 already described, so that, as the board apand 16 than it is represented to be in proaches the end of the trough, the springs F ig; 2. pass over an inclined plane, and, conse- As sheets of various sizes are folded in 5 quently, the rigidity of their bearing against the machine, it is evident that ,the plate 9,

the strips, and of course their friction deby which the upper corner of the folded creases. A uniform compactness of the sheet is bent over the plate S of the plunger whole mass of sheets contained in thetrough C, as well as the plate 8 itself, should be is thus obtained. made adjustable, so as to be readily adapted 10 It is desirable that the attendant should to sheets of different sizes; It will be obbe made aware, or should be able to readily served, 011 reference to Fig. S, that both of 7 5 ascertain without counting, the number of these plates have slots, through which the perfectly folded sheets contained within the screws, which secure them to their proper trough, so that they may be removed in positions pass, so that they can be readily l5 masses containing a specific number, thereby adjusted to suit the different sizes of the facilitating the subsequent operations, sheets. through which the sheets must pass prepara- Having now described the construction tory to being bound. An indicating appal and operation of my improvements, I wish Y ratus, connected with or driven by any of l it to be distinctly understood that I do not 20 the regularly moving parts of the machine, desire to confine myself to the precise conwould not perform this duty with precision, struction of the devices herein described, as inasmuch as some of the sheets, which are several modifications of or equivalents to the found to be imperfect after they have been same might be substituted without departing adjusted to the register pins, are, by means from the main features of the invention; but

25 of a device described in my former patent, I claim and desire to secure by Letters directed away from the trough, as they are Patent, receiving their last fold. 1. The register pins e and e', so con- The spindle 11, to which the tongue 10 is structed and so attached to a paper folding attached, or of which it forms a part, )romachine, that they shall retain a position 30 jects beyond the trough, and is furnished proper for the adjustment of the sheet, and

with a projection, which may be connected yield by the movement of the latter. to any suitable indicating and alarm appa- 2. Adjusting one of the register pins e ratus. As the spindle is turned backward laterally and longitudinally, independently and forward once only on the accession 0f the other pin, by means of the slides n 35 of every newly folded sheet to the mass conand n2 or their equivalents.

tained in the trough, and as these sheets are 3. Adjusting both pins simultaneously, all perfectly folded, it is evident that an both laterally and longitudinally, by the indicator, operated by this spindle, must frames X and Y or their equivalents, the point out accurately the number of sheets frame X being adjustable in one direction 40 contained in the trough. on the frame Y, and the lat-ter, together with When the lastpair of folding rollers V the frame X, heilig adjustable in another diand V are used, so as to complete a fourth rection on the frame of the machine, or any fold of the sheet, it is evident that as they attachment thereto. are in a line or thereabout with the trough, 1l. Any convenient number of rods 1, 2

45 the folded sheets would fall into the latter and 3, terminating at one of the folding in such a position, that the packing arrangerollers, the ends of the rods passing into ment, above described, could not be used. grooves in the said rollers as and for the This difliculty is overcome by the bracket purpose specified. 14e and its curved wires 15 and 16, repre- 5. The adjustable stop Z, with its inner 50 sented in Fig. 10. These wires are placed edge of a curved or angular form, or otherdirectly under the last pair of rollers, and wise so constructed that the end of the are so bent and situated, as regards the folded edge only of the sheet shall be in trough, that, as the sheet passes from becontact with the said stop, for the purpose tween the rollers, it comes in contact with specified.

55 the wires, the peculiar bend of which so 6. The plunger C, with its adjustable plate turns the sheet around, that, instead of fall- S, in combination with the adjustable plate 1.20 ing with its edge in a line with the trough, 9, the said plates being arranged substanwhich, but for this provision it would do, it tially as and for the purpose herein set falls with its edge across the trough, preforth.

60 cisely in the same manner as the sheets fall- 7. The curved wires 15 and 16 or their equivalents, attached to the machine in any convenient lnanner, situated under the folding apparat-us, and adjacent to the trough,

for the purpose specified,

ing from the third pair of folding rollers. Then the fourth pair of folding rollers are l used, the plunger C should be so adjusted on l the rod, by which it is connected to thel 8. The combination of an alarm or inditially as herein set forth and for the purpose eating apparatus With a paper folding Ina specified.

chine, when the said indicator is operated by In testimony whereof7 I have signed my a sheet folded loy the machine. name to this specification in the presence of 5 9. Causing the sliding {ooard O to nove two subscribing Witnesses.

alono the trouO'h with a c iminution of rictionbas the tdlded sheets accumulate, by CYRUS CHAMBERS JR' means of the springs 4, attached to the said lVitnesSs: board, and arranged to hear against the HENRY HOWSON, l0 Wedge-formed or inclined strips 5, Substan- HENRY ODIORNE.

I [FIRST PRINTED 1911.] 

